Can you use a Smart TV a a PC monitor???

[Racerbvd]

Just wondering, as the prices are so low, compared to a larger computer monitor.
Can you plug in & use a Smart TV as a monitor, pros & cons please.

[rwest]

Hi Byron,

We've doing that for years at work in our conference rooms. Hang a 55" on the wall and run the HDMI or VGA to the computer and it works great.

Rutager

[WolfeMacleod]

Yes. I use a Panasonic AX800 4k tv. It is absolutely gorgeous.

[John Rogers]

I use a Sony 36 inch I bought at Wally World for $200 a couple years ago when they were on special. Check to make sure the HDMI resolution will match what your video card outputs and what sort of sound system is built in and also use one of the high speed (HDMI 2.0). Also make sure the TV has NOT copyright protection built in, some do? My Sony has surround sound so I seldom use my external system any longer.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yup, I'm using one on my desk at work with an HDMI.

[nota]

only minus is most TV's are 60 herzt
so you can't use higher refresh rates
and tv's are a bit slower in response times but a few micro seconds
so only really matters to very extreme gamers

I use a cheap 24'' upstar tv as a monitor at 1080/1920 at 60hz

[red-beard]

Main issue is that many TVs are actually lower resolution than today's monitors.

HDTV = 1024x 768 (720P) which is pretty low resolution. 1080p is 1920 x 1080.

4K = 3840 x 2160, which is very high resolution. I expect I will be getting a 4K display for my next drafting machine.

[stomachmonkey]

Yes, but depends on how you use it.

Once you step above 27-32 inches pixel density starts to go south.

Thinks will start to go soft and text will become more difficult to read.

The farther back from it you are the less noticeable.

If real estate is the goal I prefer a multi monitor set up.

[id10t]

Yes, assuming the TV has proper inputs. One of mine has VGA,DVI, and HDMI. Another only has HDMI ...

[red-beard]

Oh - one other comment.

I had problems with the TV in my conference room with an Intel NUC. The NUC wanted to over hang the edges. It took using the video card specific driver adjustment program to get the display to hold to the proper edges at higher resolution.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Oh - one other comment.

I had problems with the TV in my conference room with an Intel NUC. The NUC wanted to over hang the edges. It took using the video card specific driver adjustment program to get the display to hold to the proper edges at higher resolution.

TV's tend to default to overscan to maximize the image.

TV's that do this will usually have a setting in their menu to turn overscan off.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

If real estate is the goal I prefer a multi monitor set up.

I use two 22" monitors on my desktop.

Also I can surf, netflix on my smart tv with a wireless mini keyboard, no computer needed.
I have a long HDMI cable for my laptop to plug into the other tv's.

Once you step above 27-32 inches pixel density starts to go south.

Totally agree, monitors have way more resolution, next upgrade I won't use a whole lot bigger than two 27" monitors.

[RANDY P]

Resolution is a problem. If you are working a lot with spreadsheets and crap like that, don't bother.

Movies, pron, whatever else, OK.

[beepbeep]

If you have 4k TV, resolution is not a problem.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Yes, but depends on how you use it.

Once you step above 27-32 inches pixel density starts to go south.

Thinks will start to go soft and text will become more difficult to read.

The farther back from it you are the less noticeable.

If real estate is the goal I prefer a multi monitor set up.

That knocks out the 40" plan

Not much spread sheets anymore or real estate (just dabble a bit, no interest in more than that)
This PC will mostly be used for email and surfing the web, was just thinking about getting a bigger monitor, and with the prices of those, I figured that I would check the Smart TV option.
Thought about setting up my 2 24" monitors,

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

That knocks out the 40" plan

I have a PC set up running a 40" TV.

It's the kids upstairs gaming rig.

Works great for that purpose but they are also sitting 7' away.

For work this is how I roll.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I have a PC set up running a 40" TV.

It's the kids upstairs gaming rig.

Works great for that purpose but they are also sitting 7' away.

For work this is how I roll.

Nice set up, BTW, I don't do gaming on mine, I prefer to actually do things, be it driving on the track, hitting jumps on my bike, shooting hoops or sex, live is better than pretend

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Main issue is that many TVs are actually lower resolution than today's monitors.

HDTV = 1024x 768 (720P) which is pretty low resolution. 1080p is 1920 x 1080.

4K = 3840 x 2160, which is very high resolution. I expect I will be getting a 4K display for my next drafting machine.

You won't regret it. Be aware that the AX800 seems to be the only TV with a DisplayPort input. It does, however, accept HDMI 2.0 from the higher end video cards for 60hz at 4k. I was very unhappy with the newer Vizio 4k sets. Only 30hz thru the HDMI for some reason. I wonder if they've fixed that issue... if so, a 3 4k monitor setup for sim racing would be brilliant and affordable... but there's also Oculus rift coming for that...

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

For work this is how I roll.

Did Tabs pick the drapes?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Did Tabs pick the drapes?

My wife did, like Tabs she has good taste.